Daoist Competition

Although Shen Chuyu also felt that going to Zhang Boyant to resolve this matter was entirely feasible, whether it would succeed or not still depended on the latter’s willingness.

After coming out from the main hall, he went straight to the alchemy room hidden within the belly of the mountain.

This place had now been lent to Zhang Boyant for pill refinement. When he reached the inner chamber, a blast of scorching air rushed at his face. Dozens of Disciples were seated in a circle before the Pill Furnace, using Mana to draw upon the earth fire. Driven by the heat there, steam rose off the tops of their heads like mist.

Zhang Boyant was seated in the hanging hut above, gathering the Mana of the crowd into one place, adjusting the fire at every moment so that the medicinal properties would not be ruined.

At this time, when these Disciples saw the Pavilion Master of the sect enter, they subconsciously wanted to rise and salute.

Zhang Boyant’s face sank, and he barked harshly, "Who told you lot to stop?"

Ever since he arrived, he had taken a heavy hand to anyone disobedient. After many days together, this group of Disciples had long since grown fearful of him. The moment they heard him open his mouth, every one of them obediently froze in place.

Seeing this, Shen Chuyu realized that this furnace of Elixir Pills had reached a critical juncture, and only then knew he had come at the wrong time. Not daring to go forward and disturb them, he went to sit to the side and waited.

After about an hour, this furnace of Elixir Pills was finally completed. The dozens of Disciples had all exhausted their Mana, yet they still forced their bodies upright, swallowed Spiritual Medicine, and sat in meditation adjusting their breathing, so that they would be able to exert strength again when next refining pills.

Though they appeared to be suffering, being able to refine pills here allowed them to learn of the Detoxification Pills ahead of time; this was far better than losing their lives, so no matter how tired they were, no one was willing to leave.

Zhang Boyant suppressed the fire, then slowly came down from the hanging hut. He treated Shen Chuyu as though unseen, going straight to the couch and closing his eyes on the spot to regulate his qi.

Another hour passed. Once he finished his breathing, he finally opened his eyes and said, "Daoist Shen, you only brought Spiritual Medicine yesterday. Why have you come again today?"

Shen Chuyu cupped his hands and said, "This time I have come to trouble fellow Daoist with a matter."

Zhang Boyant let out a cold grunt and said, "That depends on what the matter is."

Shen Chuyu formed a spell with his fingers, raising a curtain of Spirit Light to isolate the area where the two of them were. He then stated his purpose for coming, and when he was done he bent down and gave a deep bow, saying, "As things stand, the only one who can save my Gantang Academy Disciples is you alone, Brother Daoist."

After listening, Zhang Boyant began calculating inwardly. His purpose in coming here was to watch over the Sealing at all times. If anything changed, he could promptly inform Zhang Yan and detoxify his disciple, merely conducting close surveillance.

That the other side had suddenly asked to entrust their Disciples to his care, however, was something he had not anticipated.

He thought to himself, "Gantang Temple is a Lower Sect of the Fengxiang Sword Sect; even if the Pavilion Master comes here in the future, he will likely have to find some excuse. Since he has taken the initiative to send his Disciples over, this is something I could not ask for more eagerly."

Though he thought thus, the words from his mouth were all refusal. "This matter is troublesome. I, Zhang, am not the Master of the sect and cannot make such decisions."

Seeing him shirk, Shen Chuyu sighed and said, "Daoist Zhang, you have seen it yourself. My Gantang Temple is suffering under this Miasma Poison. The lives of my Disciples hang by a thread; saying they are in dire peril is no exaggeration. So long as fellow Daoist is willing to agree to this, whatever exists in my temple may be taken at your discretion."

Zhang Boyant deliberately feigned hesitation. Only after a long while did he speak, as though very troubled, "It is not that I am unwilling to aid you, but what can I alone do to save how many of yours? Are you actually going to move all your Disciples over to my sect?"

Shen Chuyu, however, stared at him wide-eyed. After a long moment, he gave a deep bow and said, "If it can truly be so, my entire sect, from top to bottom, will engrave fellow Daoist’s great kindness in our hearts."

Zhang Boyant turned his body to avoid the bow, let out a cold laugh, and said, "Great kindness? If I help you, your Gantang Temple’s crisis may be resolved, but then the Fengxiang Sword Sect will come seeking me. What use will your ’great kindness’ be then?"

Shen Chuyu was taken aback for a moment before saying, "So long as this matter is concealed tightly enough, who could know that Daoist Zhang was the one who did this? If word truly does leak out..."

He straightened up, his expression solemn, and said, "Then fellow Daoist may push the matter onto my Gantang Temple, so as not to implicate you."

Zhang Boyant chuckled darkly and said, "Words alone are no proof. I will need an edict personally signed by your Dean for this to count."

Seeing his tone relax, Shen Chuyu was overjoyed at once and said, "Good, good, it should indeed be so. This is an extremely simple matter. I shall immediately go and obtain the edict for fellow Daoist."

Fearing that Zhang Boyant would go back on his word, he strode out the moment the words left his mouth. Because he left in such haste, he did not have time to retract the Spirit Light he had just arranged and simply crashed straight through it as he went.

Zhang Boyant’s gaze grew deep, and a faintly sinister smile appeared on his face. So long as he could obtain that piece of paper, he would have rightful justification in hand for anything he did hereafter.

After Shen Chuyu exited the alchemy room, he hastened toward the main hall. At this moment, a Disciple came running in in a panic, saying, "Master, Master, the Envoy of the Fengxiang Sword Sect has arrived."